主题：Andrew Marr：我们英国人——英国诗歌文学简史 -- 万年看客

随着复辟与剧院的重新开放，一大批活力十足的剧作家也纷纷涌现了出来，不过其中当真具备诗才的人物屈指可数。阿芙拉.贝恩的生平被神秘与刻意的虚假信息所笼罩。她的父亲可能是一位住在坎特伯雷附近的理发师，她本人则可能与权倾一时的西德尼家族有瓜葛。她可能前往过南美沿海，造访过小而危险的苏里南蔗糖殖民地，此行目的或许是作为一名保皇派间谍去监视当地的种植园主。然后她结了婚，丈夫大概是一名荷兰裔奴隶商人，此人大概在1666年死于伦敦瘟疫。可以肯定的是，她是荷兰国王帐下的间谍之一，化名艾斯特丽雅或者“160号密探”。丈夫病故之后她作为一名出身贫寒的寡妇（尽管极其聪慧美貌）只得艰难度日。她创作了一系列剧本，其文笔之优美吸引了约翰.德莱顿与约翰.威尔莫特等同行是关注。她在剧作当中表达的性别与性取向理念至今看来依旧咄咄逼人。贝恩是一位铁杆保皇派，一位死硬的势利眼，还是个擅长生存的人精。她或许是全世界第一位女性职业作家，完全依靠一杆笔赚取生计。在下面这首《失望》（The Disappointment）一诗当中，贝恩采用了男欢女爱的田园诗套路，可是却将这一套路掀了个底朝天，以女性视角详细描述了男性阳痿的景象：

In a lone Thicket made for Love,

Silent as yielding Maids Consent,

She with a Charming Languishment,

Permits his Force, yet gently strove ;

Her Hands his Bosom softly meet.

But not to put him back design'd.

Rather to draw 'em on inclin'd:

Whilst he lay trembling at her Feet,

Resistance 'tis in vain to show ;

She wants the pow'r to say — Ah ! what d'ye do ?

孤寂的树丛，为爱营造的小窝

心甘情愿的佳人在其中静静躺卧，

神情慵懒，着实令她充满诱惑，

许他用强，但又要他轻柔抚摸。

她的手按住他的胸口，

却并不想将他一把推开，

而是要将他拉拢过来，

他则在躺她脚边颤抖。

尽管一切抗拒都已经是虚妄，

可她还是想奋力提问——啊，你想怎样？

Her Bright Eyes sweet, and yet severe,

Where Love and Shame confus'dly strive,

Fresh Vigor to Lysander give;

And breathing faintly in his Ear,

She cry'd — Cease, Cease — your vain Desire,

Or I'll call out — What would you do ?

My Dearer Honour ev'n to You

I cannot, must not give — Retire,

Or take this Life, whose chiefest part

I gave you with the Conquest of my Heart.

她的眼神明亮甜蜜却又严格，

爱恋与羞耻在她心里纠缠对立，

赋予了拉山德全新的元气，

她吹气如兰，与他耳鬓厮磨，

哭叫道——住手啊，住手——无用的欲壑

否则我就要喊人了——你到底想做什么？

我最珍贵的荣誉，不能轻易给予

绝对不行，哪怕是给予你——

收手吧，或者要了我的命，其中最重要的一块

我已献给你，我的心已被你征服击败。

But he as much unus'd to Fear,

As he was capable of Love,

The blessed minutes to improve.

Kisses her Mouth, her Neck, her Hair;

Each Touch her new Desire Alarms,

His burning trembling Hand he prest

Upon her swelling Snowy Brest,

While she lay panting in his Arms.

All her unguarded Beauties lie

The Spoils and Trophies of the Enemy.

但他却并不习惯恐惧，

他的爱意无比强烈，

这蒙恩的时刻变得越发愉悦

亲吻她的双唇，脖颈与发际。

每一次触碰都让警报响起

他双手烫如火，微微地颤抖，

在她的雪峰上恣意游走，

她在他的怀抱里大口喘气。

她只得将不设防的美丽全然铺陈，

丰厚的战利品便宜了她的敌人。

And now without Respect or Fear,

He seeks the Object of his Vows,

His Love no Modesty allows:

His swift degrees advancing — where

His daring Hand that Altar seiz'd.

Where Gods of Love do Sacrifice:

That Awful Throne, the Paradice

Where Rage is calm'd, and Anger pleas'd;

That Fountain where Delight still flows,

And gives the Universal World Repose.

他心里既无尊重亦无恐惧，

朝向誓言指定的对象发起冲锋，

他的爱不允许适度与折衷，

只会迅速推进，毫不犹豫。

放肆的双手擎住了神圣的祭坛，

爱神在这里举行典礼，

了不得的王座，真能与天国乐园相比，

足以平复怒火，将气愤化为安然。

欢乐的泉水依然在这里流淌，

整个世界都受到泉水的滋养。

Her Balmy Lips incountring his,

Their Bodies, as their Souls, are joyn'd;

Where both in Transports Unconfin'd

Extend themselves upon the Moss.

Claris half dead and breathless lay;

Her soft Eyes cast a Humid Light,

Such as divides the Day and Night;

Or falling Stars, whose Fires decay:

And now no signs of Life she shows,

But what in short-breath'd Sighs returns & goes.

四片温暖的嘴唇触碰在一起，

他们的身体与灵魂就此交融，

两人都体验到了喜乐无穷，

在苔藓铺就的卧榻上舒展着身体。

克拉莉斯有气无力地躺卧，

温柔的眼神，朦胧而又摇曳，

恰似晨昏之间的辉光分开昼夜，

又好比火焰衰微的星辰坠落。

她全身显现不出还活着的形迹，

唯有短促的呼吸与轻声叹气。

He saw how at her Length she lay;

He saw her rising Bosom bare;

Her loose thin Robes, through which appear

A Shape design'd for Love and Play;

Abandon'd by her Pride and Shame,

She does her softest joys dispence,

Off'ring her Virgin-Innocence

A Victim to Loves Sacred Flame;

While the o'er-Ravish'd Shepherd lies

Unable to perform the Sacrifice.

他看到了她如何玉体横陈，

他看到了她高耸的酥胸赤裸，

轻薄通透的罩衣，无法包裹

可爱可玩的诱人身形。

她挽留不住自己的羞耻与骄傲

将她最柔和的喜悦发散，

将处女的童贞向他奉献，

默默忍受着爱情圣火的炙烤。

可是兴奋过头的牧人却丧失了能力，

竟然无法将爱之祭典进行完毕。

Ready to taste a thousand Joys,

The too transported hapless Swain

Found the vast Pleasure turn'd to Pain;

Pleasure which too much Love destroys:

The willing Garments by he laid,

And Heaven all open'd to his view,

Mad to possess, himself he threw

On the Defenceless Lovely Maid.

But Oh what envying God conspires

To snatch his Power, yet leaves him the Desire.

本来已经准备品尝一千重的喜悦，

不幸的情郎本已不由自主，

谁成想快感突然变成了痛苦？

愉悦现在却将爱情毁灭。

心甘情愿褪去的衣裙就放在一旁，

天堂打开了门扉让他任意观看，

疯狂的占有欲迫使他只想侵犯

孤立无援的姑娘此时毫不设防。

但是嫉妒的神灵存心将他戏弄，

欲望依旧强烈，力量却不中用。

Nature's Support, (without whose Aid

She can no Humane Being give)

It self now wants the Art to live;

Faintness its slack'ned Nerves invade:

In vain th'enraged Youth essay'd

To call its fleeting Vigor back,

No motion 'twill from Motion take;

Excess of Love his Love betray'd:

In vain he toils, in vain Commands;

The insensible fell weeping in his Hand.

自然界的支柱——要是没有这一位帮忙

她也无法让人类诞生降世——

不肯让他罢手，反倒来了兴致，

引诱他快快进犯，松弛的神经故作迷惘。

愤怒的青年徒劳地蛮干，

试图挽回不断流逝的雄风，

一连串的动作，可惜全都落空，

爱得太过火，反而将爱背叛。

徒劳地命令，同样徒劳的努力，

那冥顽的物件只会在他掌中啜泣。

In this so Amorous Cruel Strife,

Where Love and Fate were too severe,

The poor Lysander in dispair

Renounc'd his Reason with his Life:

Now all the brisk and active Fire

That should the Nobler parts inflame,

Serv'd to increase his Rage and Shame,

And left no spark for New Desire:

Not all her Naked Charms cou'd move

Or calm that Rage that had debauch'd his Love.

这场斗争多么旖旎而又残酷，

爱情与命运多么严苛，

绝望吞没了可怜的拉山德，

他以性命起誓，要将理性弃之不顾。

这迅捷而又灵动的理性火焰

本应点燃更加高贵的身体部位，

如今却烧得他越发又怒又愧，

还不留半点火星去点燃全新的欲念。

她的妩媚裸体无法动摇或者平复

败坏了他的爱情的无能狂怒。

阿芙拉.贝恩或许是复辟时期较为高调闪耀的女性诗人之一，但却并不是最有趣的一位。这一时期还有另一位保皇派女性诗人，也就是纽卡斯尔女伯爵玛格丽特.卡文迪许。她的一位兄弟是最杰出的骑士派骑兵指挥官，在战后以叛国罪名被判处死刑。在查理一世的宫廷里，玛格丽特是亨利埃塔.玛丽亚王后身边的侍女之一。但是作为一名作家来说，她的突出特点则在于对于早期启蒙运动新哲学抱有浓厚兴趣。下面这首诗题为《这个世界当中的大千世界》（Of Many Worlds in This World），她在诗中展示了例如显微镜这样的全新科学器械如何彻底改变了人们看待宇宙的方式。这首诗或许并不能算是本书当中最优美的一首，但却隐隐预示了二十一世纪的多维宇宙理念：

Just like as in a nest of boxes round,

Degrees of sizes in each box are found:

So, in this world, may many others be

Thinner and less, and less still by degree:

Although they are not subject to our sense,

A world may be no bigger than two-pence.

Nature is curious, and such works may shape,

Which our dull senses easily escape:

For creatures, small as atoms, may there be,

If every one a creature’s figure bear.

If atoms four, a world can make, then see

What several worlds might in an ear-ring be:

For, millions of those atoms may be in

The head of one small, little, single pin.

And if thus small, then ladies may well wear

A world of worlds, as pendents in each ear.

恰似一套盒子，层层承装嵌套，

每一个盒子里面的盒子都要小一号。

我们这个世界或许也将许多世界容纳，

每一个都更薄更轻，依次层层向下。

尽管我们的感官无法将这些世界觉察

这样一个世界并不比两分铜币更大。

自然奥妙无穷，像这样神奇的造物

很容易就能躲过我们的迟钝耳目。

这样的世界里或许还有小如原子的生灵，

假如原子也能采用飞禽走兽的外形。

倘若四个原子就能构成一个世界，那么你瞧

在一枚耳环里能将多少世界找着？

须知，仅仅一根细小别针的纤微针尖

原子的数目就能达到亿万百千。

倘若当真如此渺小，那么或许各位女士

也会在耳垂上悬挂无数世界作为装饰。

玛格丽特.卡文迪许创作了一大批内容相当科学的论文与诗歌。她在科学领域的兴趣极其广泛，同时代的男性诗人竟无一人能与她相提并论。在现代社会的萌芽期，早期科学开始揭开世界的表象，而卡文迪许的作品则栩栩如生地彰显了此时的人类心智如何开始费力应对表象之下令人不安的现实。请看《原子组成的世界》（A World made by Atomes）：

Small Atomes of themselves a World may make,

As being subtle, and of every shape:

And as they dance about, fit places finde,

Such Formes as best agree, make every kinde.

For when we build a house of Bricke, and Stone,

We lay them even, every one by one:

And when we finde a gap that's big, or small,

We seeke out Stones, to fit that place withall.

For when not fit, too big, or little be,

They fall away, and cannot stay we see.

So Atomes, as they dance, finde places fit,

They there remaine, lye close, and fast will sticke.

Those that unfit, the rest that rove about,

Do never leave, untill they thrust them out.

Thus by their severall Motions, and their Formes,

As severall work-men serve each others turnes.

And thus, by chance, may a New World create:

Or else predestined to worke my Fate.

小小的原子，或许竟能将世界构造，

如此细微，形状各异，多么奇妙：

寻找各自合适的位置，它们翩翩起舞，

组成了世间万物，形状与位置互补。

修建房屋用的是砖瓦与石材，

将它们一块挨一块摆放，层层堆砌起来。

一旦我们找到了或大或小的空隙，

就将形状合适的石块填补进去。

若是石块尺寸太大或太小，并不合适，

就会松脱掉落，无法留在我们见到的位置。

翩翩起舞的原子将各自合适的位置寻觅，

找到空隙就靠近，然后牢牢固定进去。

至于那些不合适的原子则会继续游历，

却绝不会远离，直到将先来者排挤出去。

各种不同的运动，各种不同的形状，

就像若干名轮流接力干活的工匠。

就这样，出于运气，或许能将新世界创生，

又或者能够预先决定我的人生。

今天的科学家们或许会另有一套说法，但是玛格丽特.卡文迪许的诗作确实为我们揭示了十七世纪英国人心态的另一面。前文当中我们已经见识了这一时期的宗教狂热，但是同一时期也见证了皇家科学院的创建以及威廉.哈维、罗伯特.波义耳以及艾萨克.牛顿的降生。这些诗作水平很高吗？或许并不能这么说。但是笔者确实认为卡文迪许的诗作充溢着令人振奋的活力。而且这股活力还不仅仅体现在科学领域。比方说下面这首《猎兔记》（The Hunting of the Hare）就在许多层面上都引人入胜。首先，这是一首田园诗，而且作者对于自然科学有着敏锐的理解，也近距离观察过动物行为。其次，尽管卡文迪许出身于骑士派贵族家庭，但是这首诗却并未采取跃马扬鞭的猎人们的视角，而是从猎物的角度入手。其三，卡文迪许对于遭到追猎的野兔沃特（难免令笔者联想起罗伯特.彭斯）抱有深切的同情，使得这首诗成为了极其少见的早期动物权益文学作品。一名心智开明的男性贵族或许也能写出与她不相上下的科学诗歌，但是下面的诗文节选肯定不可能出自任何一名男性贵族之手：

Betwixt two Ridges of Plowd-land, lay Wat

Pressing his Body close to Earth lay squat.

His Nose upon his two Fore-feet close lies

Glaring obliquely with his great gray Eyes.

His Head he alwaies sets against the Wind;

If turne his Taile, his Haires blow up behind:

Which he too cold will grow, but he is wise,

And keeps his Coat still downe, so warm he lies.

Thus resting all the day, till Sun doth set

Then riseth up, his Reliefe for to get.

Walking about untill the Sun doth rise

Then back returnes, down in his Forme he lyes.

At last, Poore Wat was found, as he there lay

By Hunts-men, with their Dogs which came that way.

Seeing, gets up, and fast begins to run,

Hoping some waies the Cruell Dogs to shun.

But they by Nature have so quick a Sent,

That by their Nose they race, what way he went.

在农田的两道土垄之间，潜伏着沃特

身体紧贴地面，一动不动地趴着。

两只前腿并拢，鼻子搁在中间，

一对灰色的大眼睛扫视着两边。

他总会让脑袋的位置顶着风，

摇摇尾巴，让风将绒毛吹松。

天冷了他就会长绒毛，他可不糊涂

总会将御寒的皮毛紧紧裹住。

他趴着养精蓄锐，直到太阳落山

然后才起身开始自己的一天。

四处走来走去，直到日出之时，

这才回到窝里，采取原本的姿势。

最后可怜的沃特终于暴露了行踪，

猎人牵着猎犬向他发起了进攻。

沃特飞身跃起，拔腿拼命奔逃，

逃得越远越好，让恶犬找不着。

但是犬类天生就善于闻嗅，

在鼻子的引领下紧随其后。

……

Starting with Feare, up leapes, then doth he run,

And with such speed, the Ground scarce treades upon.

Into a great thick Wood he strait way gets,

Where underneath a broken Bough he sits.

At every Leafe that with the wind did shake,

Did bring such Terrour, made his Heart to ake.

That Place he left, to Champion Plaines he went,

Winding about, for to deceive their Sent.

And while they snuffling were, to find his Track,

Poore Wat, being weary, his swift pace did slack.

又惊又怕，连窜带蹦，飞奔只为逃避

如此飞快的速度，四足几乎不沾地。

抄小路他冲进一片灌木茂密，

在断裂的大树枝下面暂歇休息。

每一片树叶在风中的每一次抖动

都令他恐惧，令他的心脏抽痛。

他离开藏身处，朝着平原跑去，

一路上净兜圈子，混淆气味的痕迹。

猎犬们东嗅西嗅，想将沃特的去路找到

可怜的沃特却脚步减慢，体力严重消耗。

……

The great slow-Hounds, their throats did set a Base,

The Fleet swift Hounds, as Tenours next in place;

The little Beagles they a Trebble sing,

And through the Aire their Voice a round did ring.

Which made a Consort, as they ran along;

If they but words could speak, might sing a Song,

The Hornes kept time, the Hunters shout for Joy,

And valiant seeme, poore Wat for to destroy:

Spurring their Horses to a full Careere,

Swim Rivers deep, leap Ditches without feare;

Indanger Life, and Limbes, so fast will ride,

Onely to see how patiently Wat died.

For why, the Dogs so neere his Heeles did get,

That they their sharp Teeth in his Breech did set.

Then tumbling downe, did fall with weeping Eyes,

Gives up his Ghost, and thus poore Wat he dies.

Men hooping loud, such Acclamations make,

As if the Devill they did Prisoner take.

When they do but a shiftlesse Creature kill;

To hunt, there need no Valiant Souldiers skill.

大型猎犬脚步缓慢，喉咙里呜呜作响，

行动敏捷的小猎犬，发出高亢的叫嚷。

比格犬的叫声好比三重唱，

各种犬吠之声在空气里回荡。

好一支乐队，一路飞奔直冲向前，

他们定会演唱歌曲，若他们能口吐人言。

号角记录钟点，猎人欢乐地喊叫，

雄壮的阵容，只为将可怜的沃特干掉。

策马扬鞭全速向前飞奔，

越过沟渠，渡过河流，丝毫不惧水深，

跑得这么快，不顾性命与肢体的风险，

只为见证沃特慢慢地断气闭眼。

猎犬终于逼近了沃特的身后

尖利的牙齿终于刺穿了他的皮肉。

沃特翻滚倒地，圆瞪着湿润的眼睛，

放弃了魂灵，可怜的沃特终于丧命。

兴奋的猎人们炫耀夸口吵闹纷纷，

外人还以为他们活捉了魔王本尊。

其实他们仅仅将无害的小兽逼入死地，

打猎可用不着冲锋陷阵的技艺。